"Cultural Appropriation"

[bennyboy]

Well, as long as we got something nifty out of it, no harm...no foul. Just look at all of this cool shit!   Look at all of these sweet, sweet profits - and all we had to do was exploit some browns?  Deal.

I think for sure we have to consider our effect on others-- that's the essence of morality, right? I think as privileged Westerners we have some responsibility to mediate our own privilege with concern for others. But I also find it ironic that many of the people crying about cultural appropriation over dreadlocks or dreamcatchers probably own at least 20 items made by Asian children in sweatshops who are STILL facing serious poverty and hunger.

Anyway, to what degree do we have to feel responsibility for the actions of others, or for the sensitivities of others? I'm a European-native Heinz 57 Canadian-born guy living in Korea. I have in both my blood and my cultural experience so much stuff that I couldn't be aware of it if I tried, and I don't care enough really to try tbh.

Should I refuse to listen to white blues bands because blues couldn't have existed without slavery? What if I can find black people who are really serious about the issue, and every time they hear white boys play blues, it breaks their heart and challenges them to the center of their cores? At what point can I drop the history and just say, "Dude, Led Zeppelin rocks!" or whatever?